Issue No: 1011; 11 August 2001

"Startling revelations have again emerged on the role of Police Commissioner Isikia Savua in the Nationalists' march through the streets of the capital on May 19 last year and the burning and looting that followed."

"In a confidential document leaked to the SUN yesterday, the officers raised their concerns over the Commissioner's handling of the affair."

"The document is a copy of minutes of a meeting of senior police officers in Suva that was convened for the purpose of conducting a post-mortem examination on May 19."

"The officers pointed out the failure of Commissioner Savua to issue an operation order on the Nationalists' march."

"They said as the result, no one knew what their role and responsibilities were when the march triggered the looting and burning of shops and offices in downtown Suva."

"The minutes recorded Assistant Superintendent Soloveni Waqavuki saying "that before May 19, there was a march by the nurses where political differences were clearly shown"."

'"There were about 7000 people on the march on May 19 with only 20 policemen on the march."'

'"There was no operation order prepared and police were pushed at the entrance."'

"Similar concerns were echoed by ASP Nemani, and SP Waisea Vakamocea, who indicated that there were signals that a coup was going to happen but police operations did not take the threat seriously and organise counter plans."

'"No one knew their role because there was no operation order prepared."'

"Former Commissioner of Police Josefa Lewaicei said an operation order was a legal document, which detailed the execution of the plans and the line of authority to follow in any crisis."

'"An operation order should have been issued judging by the magnitude of the May 19 march," the former Commissioner said."

'"Operation orders are issued during marches, visits by the Royal Family or foreign diplomats and even on occasions like the Hibiscus Festival. "But if the operation order is not issued, then police officers would be confused as to what their role should be and what responsibilities to take. The operation order is activated by the Commissioner of Police after it has been brought to him by the Divisional Police Commander."'

"In the leaked copy of the minutes, Acting ASP Jaswant Lal said he remembered watching police officers getting bashed up on the day of the coup."

"He attributed this to the lack of co-ordination and questioned the absence of a contingency plan, as he did not know who was in control."

"SP Waisea Kau said when the march went past the CID/HQ, he went checking shops in town but did not see any policemen on the beat as all were concentrating on the march.

'"Although the police were aware of the coup, no contingency plan was prepared and this was evident when the CID intelligence observed armed people in Parliament. However, this observation was not taken seriously by our operations."'

"The document quoted Commissioner Savua as saying that he had advised the People's Coalition Government on April 20 of last year about the threat of instability, but he said the Government "ignored" his warning."

Savua's claims have been found to be a lie. The People's Coalition Government has stated that Savua had misinformed the government of the actual situation in the country (see: http://www.pcgov.org/fj/docs_c/savua_lrv_13dec.htm )